Which car will be crowned at 2013 World Car Awards?

Feb 10, 2013 00:07 IST

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The Audi RS 5 Coupé: Audi's V8 engines are a work of art and the one housed inside the RS5 is yet another masterpiece, propelling what is essentially a ‘practical' family coupe from 0-100kph in 4.6 seconds, spewing out 450 horsepower to all four wheels to ensure that the car always stays glued to the road, no matter how challenging the conditions. Price: $68,900. Photo:AFP

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BMW M6 Convertible: This $108,350 coupe or $113,100 convertible is not as interesting or challenging to look at as the original, BMW's latest flagship coupe and convertible is a lot more subtle than the car it replaces in terms of power as well as appearance. The mighty V10 has been replaced by a turbocharged V8, but all credit to its team of designers and engineers, even the greatest BMW aficionado would be hard pushed to find a performance or quality shortfall as a result. Photo:AFP

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BMW M 135i: At $47,000 this is a ‘bargain basement' performance car which offers the benefits of a small family hatchback as well as a suspension set up and turbocharged six-cylinder engine that can pump out 320 bhp, go from 0-60mph (100kph) in 4.9 seconds and yet somehow offer a fuel economy of 35.3mpg and 188g/km of CO2. Photo: AFP

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Ferrari F12 Berlinetta: A technological masterpiece. So much so that after driving one, getting into any other car built by any other company (with the exception of maybe a Bugatti Veyron) feels like returning to the stone age. A Grand Tourer in the truest sense of the word, like the Aston Martin Vanquish, the F12 has a V12 engine, but unlike the Aston this is a 6.2-litre capable of taking the car from standstill to 100kph in 3.1 seconds and onto a top speed of over 340kph. But at $377,000 it also costs much more than the Aston. Photo:AFP

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Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG: A motoring icon for almost 60 years, each new iteration of the SL is more powerful and dynamic than the one before. The SL 63 also benefits from a glorious, hand-crafted AMG V8 bi-turbo powerplant as well as the interior refinement one associates with a company like Mercedes. All of which should justify its $145,800 price tag. Some might argue that the car's appearance is starting to get a bit tired while others would say that like a good wine, it is simply maturing and continuing to age well. Photo:AFP

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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster: The best thing about this car is the fact that it is a convertible and therefore has normal doors unlike the gullwings found on its hard-topped counterpart. With the roof down it's easier to hear the howl from the engine and the startled look on people's faces as the car screams past. However, despite the monstrous straight-line performance, the SLS doesn't like sharp corners, despite costing $280,000. Photo:AFP

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Porsche Cayman:When Porsche launched the original Cayman, many were suspicious that it was a cynical act by a company that was less interested in building performance cars and more interested in making a car that was simply easier to afford than the flagship 911. And while, in terms of speed and performance it does seem to sit exactly between the Boxster and the 911, there's no doubting that it is a very able and exciting edition to the Porsche family and one that, with a little bit of after-market tinkering, on top of an initial outlay of $53,000 could eat a 911 for breakfast. Photo:AFP

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Clio Renaultsport 200: Renault has a reputation for squeezing huge engines into small family cars and it's good to see that with the latest generation of the Clio the French car company show no signs of abruptly ending the tradition. Although the latest Sport model only boasts a 1.6-litre engine (the last model had a 2-litre engine) this time it has been turbocharged to increase power while reducing weight. Price: $30,000. Photo:AFP

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Toyota GT 86: This car has received no end of plaudits since its release and it's no surprise. Not since the 2000GT back in the 1960s has Toyota got something so spectacularly right. This is a sportscar with handling, poise, performance and crucially, character. The only thing holding it back from becoming ubiquitous is its $40,000 price tag. Photo:AFP

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The new Aston Martin Vanquish:Not quite the fastest car in the list, going from 0-62mph (100kph) in 4.1 seconds and onto a top speed of 183mph (294 kph), but its 6-litre V12 delivers power smoothly, makes a beautiful sound and is housed inside one of the best-looking bodies Aston Martin has produced in its 100-year history. Price: $300,500. Photo:AFP